Australia is regarded as one of the most fascinating countries in the world. If you’re interested in studying abroad and would love to live in a country that’s known for its natural wonders, especially its beautiful beaches, deserts, and wildlife, review our list of the best universities in Australia. All the Australian schools on this list are known globally for their excellence in education.
Regardless of what your criteria are for selecting an ideal college, you’ll find that our article contains essential information every prospective international student will find useful when deciding on their educational future. Discover which university in our list of the best universities in Australia is the right fit for you.
What Attracts Students to Universities in Australia?
Students are attracted to universities in Australia because many Australian Universities have globally famous and successful alumni networks. Australia contains some of the top universities in the world. Further, several Australian Universities are known for facilitating advanced research and innovation in health care, science, and technology. Applicants have a wide range of college majors and financial aid options at their disposal. In addition, studying in Australia offer students great quality of life.
Australia Schools Ranked: An Overview
| Australia Rank | World Rank on Times Higher Education | World Rank on US News | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | 25 | University of Melbourne |
| 2 | 54 | 56 | Australian National University |
| 3 | 54 | 36 | University of Queensland, Australia |
| 4 | 57 | 40 | Monash University |
| 5 | 58 | 28 | University of Sydney |
| 6 | 70 | 41 | University of New South Wales |
| 7 | 111 | 66 | University of Adelaide |
| 8 | 132 | 78 | University of Western Australia |
| 9 | 143 | 127 | University of Technology, Sydney |
| 10 | 170 | 548 | University of Canberra |
The Best Universities in Australia, Explained
Whether you’re interested in acquiring an associate degree or bachelor’s degree, or even doctoral degree, these world-class institutions offer academic and research programs that can enable you to secure employment in no time. As Australian universities are mostly located in major cities with sandy beaches, you really can’t go wrong. The information provided below has been sourced directly from each school’s website.
1. University of Melbourne
- Campus Location(s): Main Parkville campus in Melbourne, other campuses include Burnley, Southbank, Dookie, Creswick, Shepparton, and Werribee
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 76.63%
- US News Country Rank: #1
The University of Melbourne is made up of six specialist campuses that contain state of the art facilities for graduate and undergraduate education in majors such as science, law, business, psychology, and medicine.
This University promotes Australian culture, design innovation, and genomics innovation projects through its many global partners. As an international student at the University of Melbourne, you will feel right at home. In fact, 44 percent of students at the university are international students.
2. Australian National University
- Campus Location(s): Main Acton campus in Canberra, other campuses include Kioloa and Coastal
- Acceptance Rate: 35%
- Graduation Rate: 88.5%
- US News Country Rank: #6
You’ll find several double study options and scholarship opportunities for students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees in the Australian National University. Founded in 1946, to promote research and break the barriers to innovation in Australia, this university has succeeded in producing several Nobel Laureates amongst its staff and alumni.
3. University of Queensland, Australia
- Campus Location(s): The St. Lucia and Herston campuses are in Brisbane, other campuses include Gatton campus, Heron Island Research Station, and Moreton Bay Research Station
- Acceptance Rate: 40%
- Graduation Rate: 61.22%
- US News Country Rank: #3
The University of Queensland offers future students over 380 degrees to choose from and is a recognized global leader in teaching, research, and hands-on work experience. It is located in a city with over 200 nationalities and languages. It offers a vibrant student life, sandy beaches, and student services, including scholarship opportunities, disability services, and career resources.
4. Monash University
- Campus Location(s): The Clayton, Caulfield, Parkville, and Peninsula campuses are all scattered either within or nearby Melbourne
- Acceptance Rate: 40%
- Graduation Rate: 79.8%
- US News Country Rank: #4
Monash University offers essential student resources and tools to help prospective students navigate the college environment. It offers over 70 well-structured double degrees to enable students to maximize their career opportunities. There are also over 400 scholarship programs for interested students. Students can explore opportunities with its 160 global partners.
5. University of Sydney
- Campus Location(s): There are campuses from central Sydney all the way to the Great Barrier Reef, including Camperdown/Darlington, Mallet Street, Camden, Westmead, and Surry Hills
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- Graduation Rate: 82.9%
- US News Country Rank: #2
The University of Sydney is a culturally progressive institution, founded almost 170 years ago in the world’s largest natural harbor. This Australian institution has a high graduate employability rate, great research facilities, a highly-rated student experience, and an active alumni base. There are hundreds of courses and over $105 million worth of yearly scholarships for undergraduate students.
6. University of New South Wales
- Campus Location(s): Main Kensington campus is in Sydney, other campuses include Syndey CBD, Paddington, and Canberra
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- Graduation Rate: 79.6%
- US News Country Rank: #5
In 2020, UNSW adopted its “Knowledge by Heart, Mind, and Hand” motto to renew its commitment to bettering the lives of people through education and research advancement. Since it began in 1949, it has established seven faculties, including Medicine & Health; Arts, Design & Engineering; Business; and Engineering as well as 47 academic and career schools.
7. University of Adelaide
- Campus Location(s): The North Terrace campus is in Adelaide, other campuses include Roseworthy, Waite, and Melbourne
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 68.4%
- US News Country Rank: #7
The University of Adelaide is a public research university that was founded in 1874. It has a notable alumni network and is ahead of other universities in south Australia in graduate employability.
There are many scholarships for international students at the University of Adelaide. Students can gain first-hand, practical experience in agriculture, defense, health, earth science, energy, and mining.
8. University of Western Australia
- Campus Location(s): The main campus is in Perth, additional campuses include Albany and the UWA Health Campus
- Acceptance Rate: 38%
- Graduation Rate: 74.1%
- US News Country Rank: #8
This is another notable public university in Australia that has gained recognition for its high-quality education and research achievements. It has 22 schools and 25,000 students of 190 nationalities. It is home to over four thousand international students and maintains a 19:1 student to academic staff ratio. Its students are taught by globally recognized instructors.
9. The University of Technology, Sydney
- Campus Location(s): All of the campuses are in and around Sydney, this includes City campus, Haymarket, Broadway, Blackfriars, Moore Park, and Botany
- Acceptance Rate: 19%
- Graduation Rate: 76.7%
- US News Country Rank: #9
With up to $12 million scholarship funds awarded to students annually, it is easy to pursue an advanced degree in science and technology or research studies in health, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and infrastructural development on this beautiful campus. You’ll find an array of learning resources, events, and admissions staff support to help with your application process.
10. University of Canberra
- Campus Location(s): The main campus is in Bruce, Canberra, other campuses can be found in Queensland, Melbourne, and Sydney
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Graduation Rate: 59.2%
- US News Country Rank: #27
The University of Canberra offers over 200 courses to help students launch successful careers in various industries. There are flexible online options for students interested in the distance education format. There are also many scholarship awards for students with financial needs or impressive academic achievements.
How We Created Our List of the Best Schools in Australia
In order to create our list, we followed the Times Higher Education 2022 World University Rankings. This ranking was created by evaluating teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and industry outcomes of over 1,600 institutions from around the world. Complementary information was retrieved from the US News Best National University Rankings.
Is a Top University in Australia Right for You?
Any of the top-class universities in Australia is right for you if you’re interested in exploring an alternative educational culture in a modern campus that may even be next to excellent surf locations. They are also a great choice if you’re looking for broader research opportunities. You’ll find livable cities and friendly people in these Australian universities.
However, if you’re only interested in academic pursuits, you’ll find many leading institutions for all forms of academic and career training in the US. Coding bootcamps, a major trend in the US, are ideal for students looking for immersive education. Through coding bootcamps, there are many career programs you can pursue in science and technology.
Best Universities in Australia FAQ
Any of the universities on our list are excellent options for international students. However, major preference can be given to the University of Melbourne, the University of Canberra, and the University of Adelaide, because of their notable alumni network, hands-on experience, and high acceptance rates.
The best degree in Australia is any basic or advanced degree in technology. Educational degrees in biomedical engineering, core engineering, computer science, psychology, business, medicine, earth science, and architecture all incorporate various levels of technological research and innovation. As such, they are excellent options for students looking to study in Australia.
Yes, some schools are free in Australia. You’ll find that most of the public schools in Australia offer free education to citizens and permanent residents. For colleges and intensive universities that don’t offer free education, you can send in an application letter for scholarship opportunities during your general application process to fully or partly fund your education costs.
The best careers in Australia are in the fields of business, agriculture, medicine, health care, engineering, and science. There are various undergraduate and graduate degree programs from all of the major universities in Australia to help you enter these fields.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
